Spiritual heritage
Monday, June 09, 2008
Mark Moore ’68 attended Olivet, where he met his wife Sharon (Collins) ’69. He became a Nazarene pastor and currently ministers at Beaverton Church of the Nazarene in Beaverton, Mich. “Olivet was something [our] family believed in. Olivet is part of our heritage. It’s family. It is part of our spiritual roots,” explains Mark. “I gave myself to God in chapel. I felt called to the ministry while at Olivet.”
Their twin sons Matt and Mark received degrees at Olivet and both met their spouses there. “A degree from Olivet opened doors for employment because of the positive reputation that came with graduating from there,” explains Matt Moore ’96. “The School has integrity that people notice.”
Elizabeth Moore ’08 also chose to attend Olivet. A current student, Elizabeth is being prepared for ministry as she plans on becoming a pastor, and as she delves into her studies at the same institution as a wide array of relatives before her.
“I have so many memories of Olivet [from] when I was little,” shares Elizabeth. “I feel I am being well prepared for ministry here.”
Miriam (Moore) Luginbill ’70 met her husband at Olivet, Michael Luginbill ’70. Now a reading specialist in the Kankakee school district, Miriam has fond memories of her days at Olivet. “I loved the community of Olivet. I loved the connection; the Christian education and influence. I figured attending a Christian school would put the odds in my favor,” explains Miriam of the reasons she chose Olivet.
“The revivals were important and I remember going to chapel four days a week — when we met in Burke,” she recalls. Following in the Moore tradition, all four of the Luginbills’ children — Missy ’95, Sarah’98, Brock ‘91 and Chad ’97 — attended Olivet at one time, and three of them received Olivet degrees.
Missy (Luginbill) Veeck grew up listening to her parents’ and grandparents’ stories about Olivet. Continuing the family basketball tradition — grandfather Norman Moore and father Michael Lunginbill had also been Tiger basketball players — Missy spent three of her four years as a forward for the Tiger women while working toward a degree in elementary education.
“It was definitely the strong Christian friendships and professors that challenged me spiritually, and the solid Christian education surrounded by Christian influences during such an important time in life that set Olivet apart,” responds Missy.
The former business over and entrepreneur behind Sequels — a clothing store across from campus frequented by Olivet students — Missy and her husband, Ed Veeck ’93 now reside in Eagle, Idaho, where Missy enjoys being a stay-at-home mom.
A drop in the bucket
Their influence is great, and their reach is far. Among other things, the Moores are educators, pastors, missionaries, government officials, business men, medical practictioners, engineers, musicians, and authors.
And the Moores are just one example within the much larger population of Olivetians.
The far-reaching effects within the Moore family, and the many other families and individuals with a history of spiritual and professional formation at Olivet, are leaving a legacy that continues to carry itself out not only within the campuses of Olivet, but around the world. Stories are being continually written with each new class of Olivetians — bringing glory to God in ways only eternity can measure.